Skip to main content

Continued improvement in Japan’s road safety

Improved road safety in Japan has been revealed, following the release of the latest official statistics. During 2016 there were 3,904 road deaths in Japan, a drop of 213 from the previous year. The data is significant as this is the lowest level of recorded road fatalities for 67 years and the first time in this period that road deaths have dropped below 4,000. The reasons for Japan’s improved road safety are thought to include better road design, safer vehicles and gains in traffic safety education measur
January 5, 2017 Read time: 1 min
Improved road safety in Japan has been revealed, following the release of the latest official statistics. During 2016 there were 3,904 road deaths in Japan, a drop of 213 from the previous year. The data is significant as this is the lowest level of recorded road fatalities for 67 years and the first time in this period that road deaths have dropped below 4,000. The reasons for Japan’s improved road safety are thought to include better road design, safer vehicles and gains in traffic safety education measures. The gains in road safety are expected to continue in future years and the target by the Japanese Government is to cut road deaths to 2,500/year or lower by 2020.

Related Content

  • Data shows young people face highest road fatality risk
    May 18, 2012
    The latest official data from the European Transport SafetyCommission (ETSC) shows that young people are amongst those facing the highest fatality risks while on the road in Europe. Some 140,000 young people aged 15-30 have lost their lives on Europe’s roads since 2001. Of these, 9,150 died in 2010. While this age group represents 20% of the population of the EU, the same group accounts for 30% of the total number of road deaths.
  • Crash climb in Germany while KSI figures fall
    July 4, 2014
    Official data from the German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reveals that in 2013, the country had the highest number of crashes since reunification. In all some 2.4 million crashes were reported to police, an increase of 0.5% from the figures recorded for 2012. But while the number of crashes grew, the number of fatalities on German roads fell to 3,339, a drop of 7.3% from 2012. This is the lowest annual road fatality rate since the country commenced compiling official records in 1953. Meanwhile the
  • Morocco looks to expand road network and also improve safety
    November 28, 2012
    Morocco’s Transport and Infrastructure Ministry has plans in hand to expand the country’s road network in a bid to boost the economy. Safety improvements will also ensure that the road network is safer, with Morocco instituting new road safety policies. Estimates suggest that up to 45,000km of roads and as well as 208 bridges will be required to provide access to the country’s rural areas. Extending the road network would cost up to US$5.8 billion, according to a study carried out for the Transport and Infr
  • UAE sees road safety improvement
    August 28, 2019
    The UAE has seen a significant improvement in road safety during the 2014 to 2018 period. Road deaths dropped 34.2% during this period to 468, while the number of serious crashes fell by 24.1% to 3,712. While vehicle numbers have increased in the 2014 to 2018 period, a combination of factors has helped to lower the casualty rate. Improved road links, traffic control systems and better emergency response systems have helped to reduce the number of road deaths and serious injuries.